Modern track building involves natural drainage and plant restoration that helps the trail blend in to the environment. Photo: Shaun Barnett/Black Robin Photography

Track to the future

Classic Tracks, Features

View more by author

Kathy Ombler

A long-time Wilderness contributor and freelance author, Kathy writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation.

By Kathy Ombler

The art of building tracks has come a long way since the days of picks and shovels, but traditional philosophies of what makes a good track are back in fashion.

It was 2019 and in the Paparoa Track’s new Pororari Hut, track builder Barry Gordon was enthusing about swales. The track was still under construction and I’d been invited for a sneak peep of what had been done so far. For water management, swales are the best new things, said Gordon. “Swales are where you […]

About the author

Kathy Ombler

Freelance author Kathy Ombler mostly writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation, and has contributed to Wilderness for many years. She has also written and edited for other publications and websites, most recently Federated Mountain Club’s Backcountry, Forest & Bird, and the Backcountry Trust. Books she has authored include Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, Walking Wellington and New Zealand National Parks and Other Wild Places. She is currently a trustee for Wellington’s Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.